British and Irish Lions chief issues warning to Joe Schmidt over Wallabies player release

British and Irish Lions chief executive, Ben Calveley, has issued a stark warning to Australia that they could be in breach of contract if key players are not released for midweek games. 

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has released five Western Force players from his camp to face the Lions in the first game on Australian soil on Saturday (June 28), however, none of the players from the Reds, Waratahs or Brumbies will play in the following midweek games.

Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White have all been released to join up with the Perth-based side ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

Schmidt’s side begin their preparations for the Test series with a clash against Fiji on July 6, two weeks before the opening Test against the Lions.

Lions issue warning to Wallabies over player releases

Speaking at a Welcome to Country event in Kings Park, Perth, Calveley said: “We’ll see a competitive fixture at the weekend, and that’s what we’re looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened before the Test series.

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“The agreement is very clear,” he added. “Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation.

“We’ll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with Phil Waugh (chief executive of Rugby Australia), and will take it step by step.

“It’s important that these games are competitive. It’s not just from a performance standpoint, but it’s also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well.”

Aside from the three-Test series against the Wallabies, the Lions will take on all four Australian Super Rugby sides, as well as an Invitational AU & NZ XV and First Nations & Pasifika XV.

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